Compensation for Corruption

national | politics / elections | opinion/analysis Friday March 05, 2004 01:48 by John McDermott - R.F.F.P.(Remove Fianna Fail Party) Ashtown,Dublin

Fianna Fail distribute the wages of corruption to their former stalwart supporters.

The cosy arrangement between Fianna Fail politicians from Bertie Ahearn's own Dublin constituency was brought to an abrupt end when Mary Harney began a crusade to reform the Taxi industry...read on for details of the fallout,(compensation)as announced by minister Seamus Brennan this week.

May I comment on the recent interesting hilarious press release of minister Seamus Brennan,re his two million Euros largesse announcement ,of compensation for approximately 1000 people associated with the taxi industry.
These were mostly widows; old age pensioners;and mortgagees who had a rental income to supplement their old age state pensions, or had borrowed money to purchase a taxi plate at market rates of some 90,000 Euros.
This is another tale of now forgotten corruption worthy of a separate Tribunal,could our taxpayers afford it.
It is well documented that one Drumcondra based T.D(.now a minister in the Department of Health)made a Faustian bargain with the Taxi Unions for the votes of their members;not only to restrict the issue of plates and leave Dublin without a Taxi service for a decade-but succeeded in halting the release of competing hackney plates also, until the final meltdown enforced by the P.D.s.
(Hackneys were even refused admission to bus lanes during this period.)
What Minister Brennan does not say when he throws ‘big figures’ about in his statements; is that payments of 10’000 Euros on average, have been made to about one thousand of the worst victims who could provide compelling hard evidence of ‘hardship and loss of income to an investigating panel.
This ‘generous’ sum must compensate them for the loss of their primary pension source for the rest of their lives.
If that is considered worthy of a press release(read’spin’) indicating Fianna Fail’s benevolence to their former friends and ardent supporters; then the taxi drivers don’t need enemies.Better by far to be in the building trade!
The local authorities have since made approx. 50 million Euros profit from the countrywide sale of taxi plates at 6000,Euros a go.!
Corruption pays ,it seems on all counts-but the proceeds always end up in Fianna Fail’s bank accounts.